Q: I used to be close with my co-worker, but some things have gone down over the last several months that make me now want to keep things strictly business. How do I make that happen without totally messing up our work relationship?

A: Breaking up is hard to do, as the song says, and doing it with a colleague doesn’t happen overnight. But it can be done, says Noelle Nelson, PhD, author of Make More Money by Making Your Employees Happy. No matter what personal issue is causing tension, you must stifle those watercooler tête-à-têtes. Your friendship may have blossomed over your mutual disdain for your boss, but you now need to focus solely on your shared professional connection. You can’t just ignore her—that’s not collegial, and she’s still your colleague. Try to view her work as positively as you can, and even praise her good work. But stop sharing personal info; if she starts to talk about her assistant’s antics, change the subject. Eventually, she’ll catch on that things between you two have cooled. But staying professional will help avoid animosity—as well as nervous knots.